RUSSELL
MADDEN'S
HOME PAGEItems of
interest
to Objectivists, Libertarians, and Science Fiction Fans

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For a graphic depicting the main issues
involved in determining the proper relationship between persuasion
and force, go here. For
a list of key concepts and definitions of freedom,
go here.

(These pages updated 11-29-05.)This
week's
featured essay:
"Fuel
For the
Soul." An analysis of Rand's main goal
in writing her classic novel, Atlas
Shrugged. [NB: This is the shorter,
4100 word version of the essay that is to appear in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged: A Philosophical and Literary
Companion edited by Edward Younkins
(Ashgate Publishers, 2006). For the uncut, 5700 word version, go
here.]
Index of Articles by
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If you find value in my work, want
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to support those values, and can afford to do so, monetary
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gladly accepted. For more information, contact the
author. You may also contribute by
Visa or
MasterCard via Amazon's Honor System or
PayPal."Introduction
to
Objectivism." A brief summary of some
major foundations.SAMPLE
SCREENPLAY: "The Greatest Good."
(113K) Based on short story listed below. When organ donation is no
longer voluntary. (I am interested in finding representation for
screenwriting using this screenplay as a sample or in accepting
free-lance work in this area.)

Joss Whedon's
FIREFLY

For previously unavailable
transcripts of three Firefly episodes
-- "Trash," "The Message," and "Heart of Gold" -- see here.

1. The Guardian Project. Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4. An historian inadvertently discovers
the secret plan of his state's governor to "protect the people." His
life -- and that of his wife -- is forfeit unless he and an unlikely
ally can expose the threat before it is too late.

4. The
Silence Wars: SW Chapter 1; SW
Chapter 2; SW Chapter 3; SW Chapter 4. The Silence Teams made war possible by telekinetically
penetrating force shields and destroying the balance of power. Now one
Silent Warrior is determined to end his enslavement once and for all.

5. Blood
Runners: BR Chapter 1; BR Chapter 2; BR
Chapter 3; BR Chapter 4. The
human-alien gangs horrified the city by selecting human victims for
their sacrificial rituals. One courageous woman is determined to
prevent a rival leader from exploiting the terror as a means to destroy
freedom and consolidate his power.

6. The
Warrior: TW Chapter 1; TW Chapter 2; TW
Chapter 3; TW Chapter 4. A
peaceful planet dedicated to freedom faces alien invaders. A
genetically-enhanced Warrior must fight not only alien soldiers but an
even greater threat from his own people.

2. "The New Boogeymen." 1-29-04. The State exaggerates the extent of "terrorist threats"
as an excuse for stealing our freedom. They refuse to consider the one
solution that would actually increase our security.

3. "My Precious." 2-11-04. Despite the reality of its corrosive results, power is
the prize sought after by nearly everyone today. Perhaps such people
should pay more attention to the words and deeds of a handful of
Hobbits...

5. "Good Cop, Bad Cop." 3-24-04. The relationship between police and citizens seems to
have changed from "service and protection" to "intimidation,
domination, and control." What does this say about freedom in America?

6. "Taking Rights." 4-13-04. Is it possible for peaceful individuals ever to have
their fundamental rights "taken away" from them?

7. "Crossing Jack." 4-16-04. In the new Repairman Jack novel, Crisscross, by F. Paul
Wilson, Jack's "fix-its" entwine in ways that test the core of his
being.

8. "Teaching Resentment." 5-04-04. The State's interference in the dissemination of ideas
in our schools not only violates rights but exacerbates the very
problems it is supposed to resolve.

9. "I Am Not Responsible." 6-15-04. Politicians proclaim that none of us is responsible when
we should be, yet we are supposed to be fully responsible in areas
where control belongs to others.

15. "Thank You, America." 11-19-04. The citizens and politicians of America should be
properly recognized for the full extent to which they support and
defend freedom.

16. "Rain on Rocks." 1-18-05. (Fiction) A mother/wife explores the nature of bravery
in the face of oppression...and demonstrates how our actions often have
positive consequences of which we may never become aware.

17. "Money Is Time." 2-15-05. People often tell us that "time is money." But what is
even more important to realize is that when the State steals your
money, it is actually "stealing" your life.

18. "Conscripts." 2-18-05. (Fiction) (Sequel to "Rain on Rocks.")
When you are denied the ability to act upon all your choices, you
treasure even more highly those values and actions that are within your control.

22. "The History of Rock and Roll."
5-12-05. When a corporation clones famous
rock musicians and replaces their brains with computers, do the
Re-creations have rights? (And which band would you re-create first?)

26. "Fuel For the Soul." 11-29-30. An analysis of Rand's main goal in writing her classic
novel, Atlas Shrugged. [NB: This is the shorter, 4100 word version of the
essay that is to appear in Ayn Rand's
Atlas Shrugged: A Philosophical and Literary Companion edited by Edward Younkins (Ashgate Publishers, 2006).
For the uncut, 5700 word version, go here.]

7. "Brothers in Blood." 4-15-02. Much of what we "learned" about history in government
schools simply wasn't so. The reputation of one of the "greatest"
presidents is a case in point.

8. "Paint It Black." 4-22-02. Understanding principles is the key to recognizing how
the State systematically violates our rights. Paintball, pilots, and
play guns share a common denominator.

9. "I Are a Student." 4-29-02. Educational "reform" in Philadelphia schools may help in
the short run. Long term, however, a fundamentally corrupt system
cannot be "reformed." It can only be abandoned.

10. "'Rights' In the Heartland."
5-06-02. The Heartland is hardly a model
of freedom to be emulated. Attitudes there towards self-defense starkly
reveal how poorly rights are understood. (Published as "Self-Defense in
the Heartland.")

11. "Cash Out." 5-20-02.
L.A. County is upset with the underground, cash-only economy: they
aren't getting their cut of the goods and are losing power. (Published
as "The War on Cash.")

14. "Rockefeller vs the United States."
7-01-02. Far better to trust our nation's
cultural icons to private hands than those of the government. A
comparison between my experience visiting the Liberty Bell and Colonial
Williamsburg, VA.

15. "Constitutional Suicide." 7-08-02. Those statists who spout the slogan, "The Constitution
is not a suicide pact," are out to destroy what stands in their way.
(Reprinted in The Valley News [Santa Fe, NM], August, 2002.)

16. "Doctors Shrugged." 7-22-02. Doctors are retiring from practice or starting other
careers in ever greater numbers. Are they "shrugging" or is something
else going on...?

20. "The New Slavery." 8-26-02. Once in this country, people fought and died to escape
slavery. Now, citizens clamor and plead to have the chains slapped on.

21. "Help Me! Or Else..." 9-02-02. Our society generally avoids laws that mandate citizens
be Good Samaritans, but we're awash in laws that accomplish the same
goals more covertly.

22. "Unleashing the Dogs." 9-02-02. The warped idea that we should attack someone because
he "might" pose a threat sets the United States on a collision course
with half the world. (Published as "Iraq: Unleashing the Dogs.")

23. "The One True Religion." 9-16-02. On the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks,
it's clear that the real culprit was not Islam or any particular
religion. The true source of our problems goes much deeper and is far
more widespread that any such narrow concerns.

24. "Sacred Ground." 9-23-02. Some people claim that the WTC site should remain a
memorial, with no construction or commerce allowed there, because it is
"sacred ground." Unfortunately, such people do not understand what
truly makes a plot of land sacred.

26. "Calling the NRA." 10-07-02. Asking for what you think you can get rather than for
what you think is right betrays both your self and your values.

27. "Tribalism Triumphant." 10-14-02. Some American Indians want to extort special favors from
government in the name of their religion...and the State is happy to
comply.

28. "Lower Education." 10-21-02. The trends in education over the past century have
created a society of people who are both ignorant and unable to think
critically.

29. "Who Are You?" 10-28-02. Not only are private businesses inordinately nosy when
it comes to asking for irrelevant information, now the Supreme Court
continues its quest to erase your ability to exercise your right to
anonymity.

30. "To Chip or Not to Chip." 11-04-02. Convenience is great, but how much are we willing to pay
for it? The implantable VeriChip tests the boundaries between freedom
and convenience as the State looks on with barely veiled interest.

33. "Dollars and Non-Sense." 11-25-02. Apparently the editors of The
TV Guide accept the lie that it only
makes "sense" that rich people can only justify their wealth by giving
it away to those who did not earn it.

34. "On the Borderline." 12-02-02. Many people who oppose freedom focus solely on
borderline cases rather than acknowledge the reality of the freedom
that should exist under normal situations.

35. "When a Gun Is Not a Gun."
12-09-02. When airport security screeners
treat candy and toys as weapons, their conceptual confusion poses a
threat to both our freedom and our lives.

37. "Let It Burn." 12-23-02. Cross-burning may be stupid and usually racist, but
freedom demands that a person has the right to be stupid and racist on
his own property or that of his friends. (Published as "Let the Crosses
Burn.")

38. "Invisible Rights."12-30-02 Those who claim that we only have the rights explicitly
mentioned in the Constitution are as bad as those who say we do not
have the rights that are directly mentioned there. (Published as
"Assault Weapons and Invisible Rights.")

39. "It's Unbelievable." 1-13-03. Those who defend freedom face many hazards. Not the
least among them are those who refuse to believe what the State is
capable of doing. (Published as "Hazard Pay for Freedom Fighters.")

40. "Bad Economy." 1-27-03. In the inverted world of statism, the major evidence of
a bad economy is when government programs are cut. (Published as "Bad
Economy Good.")

41. "In the Arms of the State." 2-03-03. Should people be forced to die in prison for keeping
what is morally -- if not legally -- theirs, i.e., their own money?
What should we do when the rule of law conflicts with what is right?

48. "Rand on War." 3-24-03. What Ayn Rand said about war, in general, and Vietnam,
in particular, echoes eerily with present-day concerns.

49. "Government and Anarchy." 3-31-03. Is relying upon a properly limited government or upon
private, competing defense agencies the better way to achieve and
preserve liberty?

50. "Avenging Angels." 4-07-03. Many supporters of war view themselves as righteous
warriors out to combat the evils of the world...and eager to force the
rest of us along regardless of our own desires. (Published as "Avenging
Angels of Western Civilization: Paroxysms and Orgasms of War.")

53. "I Don't Get It." 4-28-03. The White House Gang told us they knew where the Iraqis were
hiding their WMD's. Too bad we can't find them now... (Published as
"What Happened to the Weapons of Mass Destruction? I Don't Get It.")

57. "The Best and the Worst." 6-09-03. In making excuses for a corrupt State, many who profess
to believe in freedom help to enslave us all. (Published as "Suck-Ups
to the State.")

58. "Strike!" 6-16-03.
Many people strike to gain wealth at others' expense. Imagine if people
came to realize that freedom is worth striking for, too... (Published as "Strikes and
Guns for the State.")

59. "America, East." 6-23-03. U.S. efforts to disarm Iraqi citizens eerily echo the
actions of the State here in America, West. (Published as "Gun Control
in America East.")

60. "Anti-Privacy Privacy." 6-30-03. The State pretends to protect our medical privacy while
granting itself full access to the most intimate details of our lives.

62. "Values and Virtues: Von Mises and
Rand." 7-14-23. Ayn Rand sought to rescue
the concepts of "selfishness" and "sacrifice" and "rights" from the
statists and the collectivists, from the mystics and the altruists. The
concept "values" has also been debased by the inclusion of goals,
objects, and actions that are inimical to life. Any such desires that
undermine life should be understood and labeled for what they are:
destruction.

69. "'We' Speaks." 9-15-03. The Prez gives a speech on the war in Iraq. But no
matter how many times he says "we," he does not speak for me.
(Published as "Onward Presidential Minions: 'We' Speaks.")

70. "For the Little Guy." Those who cry the loudest that they care the most about
"the little guy" are the ones who are his greatest enemies.

71. "'Dangerous' Knives." 10-06-03. Hysteria over unconfiscated knives on planes hides the
reality that stealing citizens' means of self-defense does not make
them safer.

72. "Perfect Security." 10-13-03. The French are planning a "perfectly secure" national
identification card. How long before they -- and our own government --
institute chip implants when the "perfect security" of their cards
fails?

73. "A Judgment to Rush." 10-20-03. Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh admits he is addicted
to painkillers after the police begin an investigation. Honesty would
demand Limbaugh denounce the Drug War as an affront to freedom and
rights as he struggles to overcome his bad choices. But don't hold your
breath.

11. "For the Children." July, 1998. How the government destroys freedom by appealing to the
needs of children. [Lead essay.] (Reprinted in Topicos De Actualidad, #846
[Guatemala], Oct., 1998.)

12. "Subsidized Education." Sept., 1999. Examining the problems in higher education caused by
government subsidies. (A somewhat abridged version of this article
appeared in The Restoration, April, 1999.) (Reprinted in Spintech,
6-20-01.)

36. "Zoned Out." 4-09-01. Local tyranny is often most easily seen in the
subjective enforcement of zoning laws.

37. "The Little Things That Count."
5-20-01. The Supreme Court has opened the
door to police abuse by sanctioning arrest and jail for even small
transgressions. A prime example of the principle that "bad laws lead to
bad law enforcement." (Published as "Little Things: Harassment by Laws
and Law Enforcement.")

43. "Hoisting the Flag." 7-30-01. Calls for a Constitutional amendment against "flag
desecration" reveal too much about the ability of proponents to think
critically and the level of their commitment to freedom.

44. "Second to None." 8-06-01. Anti-self-defense groups are aghast at the notion that
someone might want to respect the Second Amendment as much as the First.

58. "The Roots of the Problem." 1-28-02. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the television
miniseries, "Roots," many Blacks still do understand what freedom
means. (Published as "The Lessons of Roots.")

59. "Kettles and Pots." 2-11-02. Politicians have the amazing ability to issue moral
indictments while they engage in far worse acts of immorality.
(Published as "Politician Pot Calling the Enron Kettle Black.")

10. "Objectivism and Business." A review of Ayn Rand and
Business by Donna Greiner and Theodore
Kinni. Objectivist guidelines for conducting one's business. (Published
as "Ayn Rand and Business.") Laissez
Faire City Times, 12-03-01.

11. "Remembering Rand." A review of Facets of Ayn
Rand: Memoirs by Mary Ann and Charles Sures.
When certain facets are ignored... (Published as "Facets of Ayn Rand:
Whitewashing by the Ayn Rand Institute.") Laissez
Faire City Times, 12-24-01.

6. "Rain on Rocks.Atlas, 1-18-05. A mother/wife explores the nature of bravery in the face
of oppression...and demonstrates how our actions often have positive
consequences of which we may never become aware.

10. "Courting Disaster." Too many courts and justices have become unprincipled
tools of our political system.

11. "Getting Gassed." When the State seeks to "help" with high gas and
electrical prices, watch your wallet.

12. "Terminal Limits." Review of Term Limits by Vince Flynn. Perhaps this author is on to something...

13. "Patriots Day vs Earth Day." The attention paid to Earth Day and the avoidance of
Patriots Day tells us too much about the state of our culture.

14. "Rampant Discrimination Exposed!" A tongue-in-cheek analysis of the group most
discriminated against in our society...and the ludicrous nature of most
claims of discrimination made by women and minorities.

15. "Presumed Guilty." Prior restraint, burden of proof, and logic are all
issues in calls to ban cell phones in cars.

22. "Saving Lives."
When cops on PSA's tell us they're giving us seat belt violation
tickets in order to "save lives" maybe we should be grateful...or not.

23. "Getting Rights Right." By examining the origins and foundations necessary for
the existence and exercise of full adult rights, we can better
understand how the concept of "rights" applies to children.

24. "Have More Sex. Now!" A call for Brits to have more children is yet one more
attempt by the State to intrude into the bedrooms of its citizens for
the "good of society."

25. "Return to Sender." The United States Post Office wants to create "smart"
stamps with embedded links to your identity. The policy won't control
criminals, but it will be another step in controlling citizens.

26. "A Good Defense."
The president insists that a threat that "may" develop at some hazy
time in the future justifies an immediate attack. What might happen if
lovers of liberty took him at his word?

4. "The Petitioner": A student seeking escape into another realm must contend
with his own self-doubts and the criticisms of his teacher who
continually rejects his Petitions for transformation.

5. "R.A.T. Ship Captain": A Research and Trade Ship Captain finds the most
valuable commercial good of his career among the most unlikely of
aliens...and may lose it all because of a bureaucrat whose life he must
save. (84K)

6. "Repatriation":
The prisoners of war longed for liberation and a life of freedom with
their rescuers...as long as they can avoid being sent home.

1. The Guardian Project. Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4. An historian inadvertently discovers
the secret plan of his state's governor to "protect the people." His
life -- and that of his wife -- is forfeit unless he and an unlikely
ally can expose the threat before it is too late.

4. The
Silence Wars: SW Chapter 1; SW
Chapter 2; SW Chapter 3; SW Chapter 4. The Silence Teams made war possible by telekinetically
penetrating force shields and destroying the balance of power. Now one
Silent Warrior is determined to end his enslavement once and for all.

5. Blood
Runners: BR Chapter 1; BR Chapter 2; BR
Chapter 3; BR Chapter 4. The
human-alien gangs horrified the city by selecting human victims for
their sacrificial rituals. One courageous woman is determined to
prevent a rival leader from exploiting the terror as a means to destroy
freedom and consolidate his power.

6. The
Warrior: TW Chapter 1; TW Chapter 2; TW
Chapter 3; TW Chapter 4. A
peaceful planet dedicated to freedom faces alien invaders. A
genetically-enhanced Warrior must fight not only alien soldiers but an
even greater threat from his own people.